October has been recognized as Transport Month in South Africa since 2005. This annual government-led campaign aims to highlight progress in mobility, promote infrastructure development, and raise awareness about safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the transport sector.
While the campaign touches many aspects of transport, road safety remains one of the most urgent and critical areas. Road safety is not only a national priority but a global concern. The United Nations, through the World Health Organization (WHO), has established clear positions and performance targets to reduce road traffic injuries and fatalities worldwide. South Africa has committed to some of these international conventions but still has considerable work to do to meet their objectives.
Global Road Safety Targets
Among the UN’s performance targets:
- Target 3: By 2030, all new roads must meet technical standards that consider road safety or achieve a minimum three-star rating.
- Target 5: By 2030, all new and used vehicles must meet high-quality safety standards aligned with UN Regulations or equivalent national requirements.
- Target 6: By 2030, halve the proportion of vehicles travelling over the posted speed limit and achieve a reduction in speed-related injuries and fatalities.
South Africa must urgently align its legal and regulatory frameworks with these global targets — not only on paper but in active implementation.
Legislation and Enforcement
The National Road Traffic Act of 1996 should be harmonized with the UN road safety targets. A firm end date should be set for the operation of vehicles that do not meet Target 5 standards. Municipalities and the RTMC must ensure that no vehicle older than five years is issued a certificate of fitness without undergoing a proper roadworthy test, as stipulated by law.
The Global Plan: Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 highlights vehicle safety and driver behavior as central areas of intervention. South Africa’s National Road Safety Strategy (2016–2030) also sets an ambitious goal: to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. Achieving this target depends heavily on full implementation of AARTO and strict law enforcement.
Leveraging Technology for Safer Roads
Modernizing enforcement through technology is crucial. Automated systems for speed monitoring, e-toll gantries repurposed for law enforcement, intelligent traffic cameras, digital vehicle databases, and AI-enabled violation processing can reduce corruption and improve compliance.
The use of real-time data analytics can support municipalities and the RTMC in proactive decision-making. Integrating smart infrastructure, such as connected traffic lights, GPS-based monitoring of public transport fleets, and automated reporting systems, will ensure that traffic law enforcement is transparent, efficient, and less dependent on human discretion.
Public Transport Compliance
Public transport is a key pillar of mobility, but it also presents major road safety risks. Non-compliance remains widespread, particularly with 4+1 motor cars and minibuses that do not meet post-2006 taxi recapitalization specifications yet continue to operate. Rural provinces face further challenges with light delivery vehicles (bakkies) used as informal public transport, posing grave safety risks.
Section 71 of the National Land Transport Act (2009) provides a legal framework for adapted light delivery vehicles where road infrastructure requires it. However, unless government enforces these laws consistently, these unsafe practices will persist.
Scholar Transport
Scholar transport requires urgent intervention. Many vehicles in this sector are unroadworthy, overloaded, and operate without valid operating licenses. It is unacceptable that the country’s most vulnerable — its learners — are transported in vehicles deemed unfit elsewhere. Stronger regulation, inspection, and enforcement must be prioritized.
The Role of the Road Accident Fund
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has a vital role in enhancing road safety. Section 25 of the RAF Act allows the Fund to sue drivers responsible for accidents under certain conditions. If fully invoked, this can drive accountability and responsible road use. The RAF should also align its compensation model with WHO recommendations to reinforce road user responsibility.
Establishing a panel of attorneys to handle these matters on a contingency basis could make this approach sustainable without straining public resources.
Capacity Building for Enforcement
The RTMC must strengthen its role in capacitating law enforcement officers at all levels. Municipalities require additional training and resources to enforce both traffic and public transport laws effectively. Coordinated and standardized training across national, provincial, and local government spheres is essential. SAPS officers, already designated as authorized officers, should be fully integrated into traffic and transport law enforcement programmes.
Conclusion
South Africa stands at a crossroads. To significantly reduce road fatalities and injuries by 2030, the country must:
- Align legislation with global road safety targets,
- Modernize enforcement through technology,
- Prioritize compliance in public and scholar transport,
- Strengthen accountability through RAF enforcement, and
- Build capacity across all spheres of government.
A technology-driven, coordinated, and uncompromising approach to road safety will save lives, strengthen infrastructure, and build public confidence in the transport system.
By Mr. Rudolph Lungile Mabece
Transport Law, Policy and Governance Specialist | Road Safety Advocate
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